TORPEDO CONFIGURATION

	The standard photon torpedo carried by the Galaxy class is an 
elongated elliptical tube constructed of molded gamma-expanded duranium 
and a plasma-bonded terminium outer skin. The completed casing measures 
2.1 x 0.76 x 0.45 meters and masses 247.5 kilograms dry weight. The finished 
casing is split equatorially by phaser cutters, which also provide 
penetrations for warhead reactant loading, hardline optical data network 
connections, and propulsion system exhaust grills. Within the casing are 
installed deuterium and antideuterium holding tanks, central combiner tank, 
and their respective magnetic suspension components; target acquisition, 
guidance, and detonation assemblies; and warp sustainer engine. The 
holding and combiner tank shells are gamma-welded hafnium titanide. The 
tank liners, as well as the warp sustainer engine coils, are all constructed 
from directionally cast silicon-copper carbide to maximize field efficiency.
	The multimode sustainer engine is not a true warp engine due to its 
small physical size, one-twelfth the minimum matter/antimatter (M/A) 
reaction chamber size. Rather, it is a miniature M/A fuel cell, which powers 
the sustainer coils to grab and hold a hand-off field from the launcher tube, 
to continue at warp if launched during warp flight by the starship. The cell, a 
cylinder 20 cm in diameter and 50 cm in length, is limited to a narrow warp 
field frequency range and cannot add more than a slight amount of power to 
the original hand-off field. The maximum cruising velocity will follow the 
formula v­=vÚ + 0.75vÚ/c, where vÚ is the launch velocity. Other flight 
modes are triggered according to initial launch conditions. If launched 
during low-impulse flight, the coils will drive the torpedo up to a 75% higher 
sublight velocity. If launched at high sublight, the sustainer will not cross the 
threshold into warp, but will continue to drive the torpedo at high relativistic 
velocities. If required, the maximum effective range can be extended, but 
with a loss of detonation yield, as the sustainer engine draws reactants from 
the M/A tanks.
	Once given direct prelaunch trajectory instructions by the optical 
data network, and optionally updated in flight by subspace radio link, the 
torpedoÕs targeting and guidance systems communicate with the sustainer 
to produce the optimum travel time to the target. This allows the arming 
circuitry a minimum of 1.02 seconds to combine the warhead fuels. 
Trajectory changes are made by differentially constricting the sustainer 
exhaust grills.
	The actual firing operation occurs in the two launcher tubes, one 
forward within the connecting dorsal on Deck 25, and one aft above the 
support pylon wing on Deck 35. The launcher is downstream from four loader 
stages, where the M/A fuels are injected into four torpedoes at one time. 
Each loader can place a torpedo into the launcher for volley firing. In each 
position, the launcher tube, 30 meters in length, is constructed from 
machined tritanium and sarium farnide. It is strung with sequential field 
induction coils and launch assist gas generators to provide initial power to 
the sustainer and propel the casing away from the starship. Once fired, the 
launcher tube is purged of surface residues by flash sterilizers, the coil 
charges are neutralized, and the firing sequencer is reset to await a new load 
of torpedoes. In the event a set of casings is loaded, and the ship then stands 
down from Red Alert, the warhead fuels are off-loaded and returned to 
storage, and the launcher system is powered down.
	Both launchers can be loaded with as many as ten torpedoes at one 
time for simultaneous launch. In such cases, all torpedo devices are ejected 
from the tube in a single impulse and remain together for approximately 150 
meters. At this point, individual control programs assume flight and targeting 
control for each torpedo. This is an effective means for simultaneous 
delivery of torpedoes to multiple targets.
	The same technologies that produced high-velocity defensive 
weapons have also produced advanced warp-capable remote sensor 
probes. One quarter of the 275 basic casings normally stored aboard the ship 
can be packed with sensor arrays, signal processors, and telemetry systems 
for launch toward nearby targets. Applications will typically include stellar 
and planetary studies, as well as strategic reconnaissance.  Æ